Jennifer Kennelly

1.Why would you like to serve on the Board of Directors of the Onion River Cooperative?

I began working at City Market on the first day that I moved to Vermont eight years ago. From my first day, when Clem Nilan (our former General Manager) handed me an article about issuing Patronage Dividends, to my last day on September 23rd the Co-op had and continues to have my heart. The work that is done every day to ensure that the Co-op is living up to its Global Ends and cooperative principals is nothing short of amazing! For family reasons I accepted another Finance Director position at the end of August. This was a challenging decision given all of the exciting opportunities that lie ahead for the Co-op, but a necessary change to support my young family. As a member of the Co-op’s leadership team, I worked closely with the General Manager and leadership team to make recommendations to the Board that were in the best interests of the Membership, including Patronage Dividends, debt refinance, and land purchases. As my time as a Co-op employee has come to an end, I would love to continue this work as a fiduciary of our Members by joining the Board of Directors.

2.The work of the Board is not operational – that is, it does not deal with the daily operations of the store. Instead, the Board deals with the overall policies that identify and guide the mission of the Cooperative.

How will you stay focused on the larger vision, without being distracted by the day-to-day operations of the store?

If elected, I would add a unique perspective to the Board during a period of significant transition and growth. While I bring a breadth of operational knowledge to the Board, I understand and respect that the Board’s work is at the policy level. I have supported three general managers with detailed monthly policy reporting and policy interpretation. During that time I have gained a deep understanding of our policies and how they support and protect our Co-op and its Members. I also understand how these policies need to grow and adapt to our changing multi-store cooperative so that we can continue to be central to a healthy and thriving community.

3.What strengths and skills would you bring to the work of the Cooperative’s Board?

I have many strengths and skills that I would bring to the work of the Board, including financial expertise, institutional knowledge of our Co-op, relationships within the cooperative community, and I am a life-long learner. As the Director of Finance for the Co-op for the last eight years, I bring a deep understanding of cooperative grocery financial statements and associated best practices. I also know how these financial statements will change as we move to a multi-store cooperative. This expertise will add value to the Board’s work as a fiduciary of Member resources in a way that goes beyond our current policies. My institutional knowledge of City Market will be important to ensure we remain true to our mission as we transition and grow. Utilizing the relationships that I have within the cooperative community will be an asset to the Board’s conversations around new topics that arise as the Co-op grows. As a life-long learner, I seek to participate in many of the educational opportunities available to the Board Members, including Cooperative Café and Consumer Cooperative conferences. These opportunities will be extremely important as our Co-op reviews policies in a multi-store format and learns from other co-ops in similar situations.